Check-writer



C. G. TIEFEL.

CHECK WRITER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1919.

Patentefl Nov. 15, 1921"- 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

MA TTORIVE Y C. G. TIEFEL.

CHECK WRITER. APPLICATION FILED MAR.4.4919.

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Patent-m Nov 15 11921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Pay tothe order nfi" UNITED T ES PATENT OFFICE.

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' Specification of was Patent. Patented Nov.15 ,192t.

hppllcetl on fl led March 4, 19 m. Eeriallt'o. 280,847.

To all whom'z't may concern:

' Be it known that l, Cmnnns GJTIErnL, a

Jill

citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certainv new and useful linprovements in Check-Writers; and l hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description ofthe same.

This invention relates to printing machines, particularly to machines for printing upon checks or other commercial instruments the amount for which the instrument is tobe drawn, and it has for its special object to provide a machine employing a type carrier of novel construction and adapted for printing a series of words designating a monetary amount in a line in such a manner as to render the line readily legible and also H to make alteration or substitution of one or more words by others indicating a dift'erent amount extremely diiiicult and capable of ready detection. I

A further object is to provide a type carrier by which the words of an amount are printed in such'a manner that it is impossible to change one word to anotherby a subsequent impression of another .word on the type carrier,'in which the letters appear in the same order as in the first word.

Other advantages will appear in the following description in which reference is had to the accom an ing drawings which show a machine em ho ying the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a similar view just inside the casing at the right hand end of the ma-, chine.

Fig. t is a detail sectional view on the line of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 ct Fig. 3. v

Fig. his a similar view on the line ti6 ct Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the face of a t pe wheel.

The machine shown in theaccom anying. dra in s 18 s nt n d to e i a and words any desired monetary value, within certain l1m1ts, at a single impression. It

comprises a set of type carriers, each provided with 'a line oil type for printing each ofithe various words employed in writing amounts, and so constructed that when the imprint is made there will be no spaces or gaps between the words. The type in each llne are graduated in hei ht from one end to the other, thereby making it possible for the eye to grasp the printed words as units 7 as readily as though they were spaced apart while at the same time making it more dificult to change an imprint, either by partially erasing and then printing a difi'erent word or by mserting a letter or part of a letter at the end of a word already printed. In the embodiment shown the letters of each word decrease uniformly in height from beginning to end so that lines A (Fig. 8) bounding the uppe and lower ends of the letters gradually converge toward the end of the word while the lower line is horizontal.

lln the drawings the casing l of the machine carries a cross shaft 2 upon which are loosely mounted in contiguity a series oil type wheels 3. The casing is slotted at i to permit a check or other paper to be inserted beneath the latter and above a platen 5 cooperating with the type wheels, the platen being carried on lever arms 6 pivoted on av shaft 7 extending across the rear of the casing.

.lln the embodiment shown the type wheels are of similar construction and are all of the same width face, each wheel having words arranged in rows 8 on its cylindrical periphery. All of the words required in an amountmay appear on each type wheel, and the words preferably extend the full width of the faces of the wheels regardless of their length, although if desired the short words like one, two, six and ten may occupy a shorter space and have a spacing character 9 as shown in Fig. 7 to fill out the full width of taco. The use oi wheels of similar construction not only results in cheaper manufacture but enables amounts to be set up by choosing one word on each wheel. However, it is not intended to limit the invention to making the wheels similar or of equal width face or to making each word extend the full width of the face as more than one word can be arranged ina line across the face of 3; Wheel,

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The type rows are arranged on the type wheels with their base lines parallel with the axis of the shaft 2, and the letters of the words are preferably of adually decreasing size, the last letter belng about half the helght of the first, so that lines bounding the upper and lower ends ofthe letters gradually converge as shown in Fig. 7. As the type wheels are arranged in contact, there is no spacing between a word on one .wheel and a word in alinement therewith on an adjacent wheel; consequently the construction of the type with letters of graduated height is provided for the purpose of rendering the rinted line read ly legible. In additlon and as a result ofthis arrangement, a space is provided between the small ends of adjacent words, which is taken advantage of for driving the type wheels by means of idlers 10, a set of which are mounted loosely on a shaft 11, extending across'the casing. The idlers 10 are driven by gear teeth on indicating wheels 12 which, together with the corresponding type wheels, are independently shifted by rack bars 13, provided with thumb pieces 14. The indicating wheels 12 have, on their peripheries, the same words arranged in the same order as on the correspondin type wheels, and these words are visible t rough a slot 15 in the casing, the words appearlng through the slot being the same as the type rows which are in printing position.

After the type wheels have been properly positioned, an inking pad 16 carried by a swinging shield 17 is moved in contact with the type by means of a slight movement of the platen levers 6, this movement being brought about by cams 18 on the operating shaft 19 which: is revolved by a crank 20. The platen levers are then lowered, and the shield 17 swung out of the way by means of pivoted arms 21, and pitmen 22, actuated by cams 23 on the shaft 19. Continued movement of the cams 18 then raises the platen levers their full stroke, carriin aper into contact with the type w ee 1m ressing the line of words thereon.

I n the normal operation of the machine, the manually operable setting member which controls the selection of the type words on the extreme left hand type wheel is shifted until an index portion thereof registers with the appropriate character on the top of the casin when the word appearing through the s 0t '15 will indicate that the same word on the type wheel is in printing position.

and

' The succeeding words of the amount are then in the same manner on the adjacent engaged by the left end of the check positionin the latter beneath thety e wheels so that t e words on the left whe begin at a the oint very close to the end of the check. onsequently the printed line begms so close to the left end of the check that there is no.

possibilit of inserting a word or. words before the, 'ne for the purpose of raising the amount. Stops27 adjustable in slots 28 in the plate 26 toward and from the laten determine the location of the printed line with reference to a longitudinal edge of-the check.

A blank space 24 may be provided on each type wheel in case the words appearing in the amount are less in number than the total number of type wheels, and the setting members for the remaining wheels .not used are left in the normal or idle position shownin Fig. 1, when the blank spaces 24 on the wheels will be opposite the. laten and con.- sequently no impression wil be made from these wheels. If desired, a row of stars or other arbitrary filling characters may be substituted on each type wheel in lace of the blank spaces, so that a row of imiting characters wouldappear after the words in v arranged in a series, and means provided for selectively moving the group to bring any one type form to printing position.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted .to fulfil the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood-that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing machine embodying a set of type carriers each having on its face a plurality of words extending the full width of the carrier, the words consisting ofletters of graduated height.

2. A printing machine embodying a set of type carriers each having on its face a plurality of words extending the full width of the carrier, each word consisting of letters which are graduated in height in one direction from the first to the last letter.

3. A printing machine embodying a set of ty e carriers each having on its face a plura ity of words of equallength, the'words conslstin of letters decreasmg in height from beginning to end.

4. A printing machine embodying a set of type wheels each having on its eriphery a plurality of words of equal length the words eanne consisting of letters decreasing inlheight ase from beginning to end, and the ines of the words being arranged parallel with the axis ofthe wheel.

5. A printing machine embodying a set of type carriers eachhaving on its face a plurality of words, each consisting of letters which decrease in height from the beginning to the end of the word.

6. A printing machine embodying a set of cylindrical type wheels each having on its periphery a plurality of word lines of equal length, regardless of the number of letters in the lines, the spaces between the word lines being greater at one side of the wheel than at the other.

7. A printing machine embodying a series of type carriers each having on its face a plurality of word lines of equal length regardless of the humber of letters in the different lines, the spaces between the word lines being greater at one side of the carrier than at the other.

8. In a printin machine, a set of independently adjusta le type carriers each provided with a line of type for each of the various words employed in writing amounts, the type in each line being formed and spaced apart to make the lines all substantially the same in length regardless of the number of letters in the line and graduated in height fromone end of the line to the other, and means for independently adjusting the type carriers to set up various amounts.

9. In a printin machine, a set of independently rotatab e type wheels each having on its periphery a line of type for each of the various words employed in writing amounts,

the type in each line being formed and spaced apart to make the lines all substantiall the same in length regardless of the numher of letters in the line and graduated in height from the beginni to the end of at; the line, and devices for in ependently ro tating the type Wheels to set up desired amounts. p 7

10. In a printing machine, a of adjustable type supports each carrying all of I the word type used in printing money valhes, a fixed marginal stop to be engaged by the left hand edge of the work sheet, and

fixed point near the left hand margin of the work.

11. In a printing machine, a series of adjustable type wheels mounted with their sides in contact and each having on its printing face a word type form for printing each of the words used in expressing monetary values, the letters in each form being constructed and spaced apart to make all of the forms extend the full width of the printing face regardless of the number of letters in the word and having said letters uniformly decreasing in height from the beginning to the end of the form, and devices for adjusting the type wheelsto set up various amounts ready for, printing.

.12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a type carrier having on its face a separate type form for each of the words which the machine is constructed to print, each of said forms comprising'a group of letters graduated in height from one end of the form toward the other, and meansfor taking impressions selectively from said forms.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a type carrier having on its printing face a plurality of word type forms, each form extending the full width of the carrier and having the letters of the words graduated in height from one end of the form to the other, and means for taking impressions se'lectivel from said forms.

CHA LES Gr. TIEFEL. 

